Hundreds in Idaho mourn former Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage

[Judi Lynn]

Monday, October 9, 2006 · Last updated 5:38 p.m. PT

Hundreds in Idaho mourn former Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage

By JESSE HARLAN ALDERMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

MERIDIAN, Idaho -- A roster of Idaho's top politicians joined ranchers in blue jeans and bolo ties and mourners in black suits to remember steely former Republican U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage at a memorial service Monday.

"I say now to the almighty God - and I'm not quite sure why you called her - but she's there now: stand back and give her rein," U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, said in an eulogy before hundreds gathered in a suburban Boise chapel.

Chenoweth-Hage died Oct. 2 after a car driven by her daughter-in-law flipped on a rural road near Tonopah, Nev. She was 68.

She represented Idaho's 1st Congressional District for three terms - from 1994 to 2000. On the national stage she often stood out, roiling opponents with her disdain for "big government," while gaining a homegrown reputation as a Western rights crusader.

As a congresswoman, she famously held "endangered salmon bakes," serving canned salmon to protest the fish's endangered species status. She once accused federal agents of using black helicopter gunships to harass ranchers, but later backed off the claim.
(snip/...)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_ID_Chenoweth_Hage_Memorial.html



Chenowith, and Senator Larry Craig, who delivered a prayer of thanks eulogy

[WillParkinson]

1. Wow...

""I say now to the almighty God - and I'm not quite sure why you called her - but she's there now: stand back and give her rein," U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, said in an eulogy before hundreds gathered in a suburban Boise chapel."

Kinda full of themselves, aren't they?

[regnaD kciN]

2. Chenowith was, supposedly, known for having affairs...

...with other Congresscritters. I recall one anonymous comment that "Chenowith proved that it was literally possible to f*ck one's brains out."

:rofl:

The frightening thing is that I may be related to her (by marriage). One of the few family lines I can trace back far enough includes a marriage to a Chenowith. And there can't be that many totally-different families with that name.

:scared:

[Ian David]

3. I don't think it was god that called her

When Satan wants new ideas on how to torture people, he calls a Republicker home.

[catabryna]

4. To be the lone dissenter...

Helen was my former employer's mother-in-law when I lived in Idaho. Though both he and she knew I would never support her, they respected my reasons and never tried to shove it down my throat. For that reason, I am extending my condolences to the Keenan family including her daughter Meg, son-in-law John and their children.

[warrens]

5. Steely? I would have used the term "psychotic"

She was about as nutty as they get.

[bluestateguy]

6. She did honor her term limits pledge

A lot of other Republicans elected in 1994 made that promise with no intention of keeping it. Chenoweth kept her promise.